Prentice C. Hollingsworth, Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Juvenile, Washington 2024

(Seattle) — Prentice C. Hollingsworth, 45, a convicted felon fresh out of federal prison and living in a Tacoma halfway house, has been indicted on charges of attempted sex trafficking of a juvenile and attempted enticement of a minor. The grand jury indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran, marks a swift return to federal prosecution for Hollingsworth, who was still under lifetime federal supervised release from prior sex offenses.

Hollingsworth was released to the federal halfway house in December 2019 — a supervised transition back into society. Less than a month later, he began communicating with what he believed was a 15-year-old girl via a web application. In reality, the ‘teen’ was an undercover Seattle Police officer. During the exchanges, Hollingsworth laid out plans to turn the minor into a prostitute, detailing prices for sex acts and his cut as a pimp.

He didn’t just suggest prostitution — he optimized it. Hollingsworth advised the undercover officer that her youth would increase her value on the street, claiming younger girls fetch higher prices from buyers. He urged her to drop out of school to focus full time on turning tricks, framing the sex trade as a profitable career path. His messages revealed a cold, transactional view of a child’s exploitation.

The scheme unraveled in January 2020 when Hollingsworth arranged for the supposed minor to check into a hotel room in Fife, Washington, for the purpose of prostitution. Law enforcement intercepted him at the Tacoma halfway house shortly after the booking was confirmed. No minor was ever in actual danger — but the intent, according to prosecutors, was real and fully formed.

Hollingsworth now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison on each count — attempted sex trafficking of a juvenile and attempted enticement of a minor. Both carry a maximum penalty of life behind bars. His prior record, including lifetime federal supervision, adds another layer to a pattern of predatory behavior that authorities say shows no sign of abating.

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham. Hollingsworth is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges August 20, 2020. The indictment contains allegations only; under U.S. law, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

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